Pedophilia

Pedophilia, also spelled paedophilia, also called pedophilic disorder, psychosexual disorder, generally affecting adults, characterized by sexual fantasies about or attempts to engage in sexual acts with a prepubescent child of the same or opposite sex.

In the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; 2013), pedophilia (pedophilic disorder) is classified as a type of paraphilia—a category of recognized disorders defined by unusual fantasies, urges, or behaviours that are recurrent and sexually arousing. According to the DSM-5, in order for pedophilia to be diagnosed clinically, such thoughts and behaviours must cause distress or interpersonal hardship to the affected individual or cause distress, injury, or death to persons who are unwilling or unable to consent to sexual behaviours. The World Health Organization’s ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders (1993) uses a similar definition. According to both publications, the thoughts or behaviours in question must be present for at least six months for clinical diagnosis, and the affected individual must be at least 16 years of age and at least 5 years older than the child (or children) at the centre of the individual’s sexual fantasies.

Pedophilia may be distinguished from hebephilia (sexual preference for individuals who typically are between ages 11 and 14) and ephebophilia (sexual preference for late-stage adolescents, typically ages 15 and 16). In many countries an individual who is convicted in a court of law for child sexual abuse (seechild abuse), which involves sexual abuse of a prepubescent or postpubescent individual up to age 18, is known as a sex offender; some of those individuals are also later clinically diagnosed with pedophilia.

The typical pedophile is unable to find satisfaction in an adult sexual relationship and may have low self-esteem. Sexual attraction toward children dominates the pedophile’s life, often causing the individual to live in fear of the attraction and in some cases causing the person to act on his or her urges. If a pedophile attempts a sexual encounter, the encounter frequently stops short of intercourse, with the pedophile obtaining sexual gratification through fondling the child and sometimes through genital display alone. Reactions of the child victim can range from fright—particularly if force or violence (or the threat of force or violence) is involved—to bewilderment or passive enjoyment. Although some children seem more upset by previous parental warnings than by an actual encounter, the sexual encounter can often be quite traumatic to them, especially if there is associated violence. There is also evidence that children who have been sexually victimized are more likely to be troubled adults.

The underlying cause of pedophilia is unclear. Although biological abnormalities such as hormone imbalance may contribute to the disorder in some individuals, biological factors have not been proved as causes. In many cases pedophilic behaviour appears to be associated with sexual abuse or neglect experienced during childhood and with atypical emotional or psychological development. Research also has indicated that boys who were sexually abused are more likely to become pedophiles or sex offenders. Girls who were sexually abused more frequently respond by engaging in self-destructive behaviours, such as substance abuse or prostitution. Most pedophiles are men; the condition is rare in women.

When a person with pedophilia acts on his or her urges and causes a child to suffer, it generally is considered a serious sexual offense. Patients who are diagnosed with the disorder are expected to participate in treatment programs. Among effective forms of treatment for pedophilia are cognitive and behavioral therapies (seecognitive behaviour therapy) that employ empathy training and restructuring of distorted and deviant thought patterns. Empathy training teaches the patient to view his or her behaviour from the perspective of the victim. Cognitive distortion therapy attempts to restructure a patient’s deviant notions—for example, by reinforcing the fact that coercion of children into sexual activities is an inappropriate behaviour. In some cases medications such as cyproterone that suppress the activity of testosterone in men can be effective in reducing aggressive behaviour and sex drive.